View full sizeAmanda Lepley-Simard and Caitlin Gaul started Birds & Bees Nursery in Southeast Portland a year ago.Courtesy of Birds & Bees Nursery

BIRDS & BEES: If you haven't discovered it yet, Birds & Bees Nursery in Southeast Portland just celebrated its first anniversary. Portland natives and best friends Caitlin Gaul and Amanda Lepley-Simard wanted to team up and open a neighborhood business. They settled on plants, and turned a shabby building at 3709 S.E. Gladstone St. into a nursery that specializes in natives, edibles, gifts, chicken and bee-keeping supplies and soil amendments.

BLOOMING NURSERY: Gardeners are likely to recognize the burgundy pots used by Blooming Nursery, a wholesale grower in Forest Grove that's been around for more than 30 years. So far, the plants have been available at garden centers. Now they're opening a farm market just north of Cornelius and will sell directly to the public. Owner Grace Dinsdale couldn't help but tease me and other garden writers: "Come find the plants you've read about but can't seem to locate." In addition to potted plants, there will be fresh fruit and hanging baskets. Grace has big plans for the future. I'll keep you posted.